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Tag: shootout

  • Paris Attack Mastermind Pursued By French Police In St-Denis Raid, Gunshots, Explosions Heard

    The French police were involved in a shootout early Wednesday as part of an on-going police raid in St-Denis that is expected to capture the alleged Paris attack mastermind, as well as a “ninth attacker”.

    Suspected mastermind Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who was previously believed to be staying in Syria, but is now based in France, is the main target of the operation.

    In addition, the authorities are also looking for Salah Abdeslam, who has been the subject of a “major manhunt” since Saturday, and reported “ninth attacker,” who has been sought by the police since Tuesday night.

    The town of St-Denis, which lies near the northern border of Paris, was the venue of the police operation on Wednesday.

    According to a BFMTV reporter, gunfire was first heard since at about 4:30 local time, and continued for more than two hours. The encounter between the police and the suspected terrorists took place in an apartment near Gabriel Péri. A woman inside the apartment reportedly detonated a suicide bomb amidst the gunfire, wounding officers. A “series of explosions” were also heard during the operation. “From our window, we could see lights, like fire or grenades… Then the helicopters arrived,” said a mother who was in the vicinity.

    Civilians and residents have been advised to stay away from the area or avoid leaving their homes. Public transport and the metro have been shut down in the area for safety.

    However, there were no available updates on whether the “massive” operation was successful or not. There were no details whether the targets were injured, captured, or negotiations are undergoing.

    The area where the operation is taking place is just over two kilometers from Stade de France, one of the major targets of a suicide bombing on Friday’s multiple terrorist attacks.

    The suicide bomber was not allowed to enter the stadium, and was forced to detonate the bomb outside. There had been a friendly football match between France and Germany at the time.

    A source reported that the operation includes a “special armed response unit” due to the fact that Europe is on high alert following the attacks on Friday that claimed 129 lives and injured hundreds more.

    French President François Hollande is set to hold a meeting on Wednesday to extend the country’s state of emergency to three months. Lawmakers would then vote for or against it on Thursday and Friday.

    Hollande has reportedly agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin to coordinate regarding the two country’s attacks on the terrorist group.

    The two “agreed to assure closer contact and coordination between the military and security service agencies of the two countries in actions against terrorist groups… in Syria”, said the Kremlin.

    ISIS recently claimed responsibility for bombing a Russian jet last month that claimed the lives of more than 200 passengers.

    ISIS Celebrates Russian Jet Bombing Prior To Paris Attack

    Friday’s terrorist attacks have caused panic across the European nation and other neighboring countries. A scheduled football match in Germany was canceled due to the attacks, while two Air France flights from the United States were diverted.

    Investigators said that the terrorist attack was planned in Syria, and was “nurtured” in Belgium, where a few of the suspects, including the Paris attack mastermind, stayed. One of those is Abdeslam, together with two other suspects, who were stopped by the French police as they were driving to the Belgian border.

    Unfortunately, they hadn’t been on any of the suspect lists at the time, and so the officers let them go. His two comrades have since been captured, and only Abdeslam, of the three suspects in the car, remains at large.

    Meanwhile, France has already taken steps in retaliating against Islamic State, dropping 16 bombs on alleged strongholds and recruitment camps of the terrorist group.

  • Inglewood Shootout Suspect Apprehended

    Inglewood Shootout Suspect Apprehended

    An Inglewood, California man, who barricaded himself inside a house after taking two female hostages, surrendered to authorities after an eight-hour standoff on Wednesday. Several shots were fired as officers arrived at a residence on South 5th Avenue at 12:35 p.m., after a call concerning a domestic disturbance.

    The suspect, a 45-year-old male with a criminal record, according to a district attorney’s office, was seen dragging a minor into the house, said to be the 14-year-old daughter of his girlfriend, who was also taken hostage. The hostages were unharmed during the standoff, and were taken to the South Los Angeles Sheriff’s station for questioning.

    When police and SWAT team members arrived on the scene, the suspect claimed he was going to shoot his girlfriend, if the officers didn’t stand down. An exchange of gunfire ensued, and one of the officers was hit in his bullet-proof vest, and suffered blunt force trauma injuries. His partner was also injured during a fall while protecting him, and she suffered minor injuries. Both were taken to Centinela Hospital. The officer shot was then transferred to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where he is listed as being in stable condition.

    After roughly eight hours of negotiations, the suspect surrendered peacefully. LASD Lt. Dave Dolson commented, “Sometimes these things just take time and I guess finally the negotiators built trust with the suspect and he felt like he would be fairly treated and safely taken into custody. He didn’t make any demands. He did what we asked him to do: exit the house unarmed with his hands in the air.”

    Police aren’t yet sure what triggered the hostage situation, and the suspect’s identity has not yet been released.

    In related California news, “revenge porn” is now officially banned in that state.

    Image via Twitter.

  • State Trooper, Robber Injured in Bank Heist Shootout

    A man who robbed the First Bank at Dutzow Friday morning was shot, in an exchange of gunfire with a state trooper near New Melle, in St. Charles County, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol. The officer was also shot, but the round didn’t penetrate his bulletproof vest, according to Warren County Sheriff Kevin Harrison. Harrison adds that the trooper is “shaken up,” but not seriously injured. The condition of the suspect has yet to be released.

    Shortly after 9 yesterday morning, the 64-year-old suspect walked into the bank wearing a black mask, glasses and rubber gloves, flashed a handgun, and demanded cash. While threatening to kill the tellers, the suspect instructed them to hand over the top layer of bills from their drawers, along with the $50 and $100 bills from the vault, adding that no dye packs should be included. Roughly $40,000 was stolen. He took off down Highway 94 toward St. Charles County, in a white, 4-door sedan. The unidentified, 26-year-old state trooper got in pursuit, and stopped the suspect on Highway F near Highway D, where the gunfight ensued. Other officers arrived on the scene, and took the suspect into custody.

    Sgt. Al Nothum, a spokesman for the Missouri Highway Patrol said, “The male subject got out and began shooting at the trooper. The trooper, he was struck in the chest – The trooper returned fire striking the subject – Everybody is kind of breathing a sigh of relief, it comes down to the training. We have a great academy in Jeff City. You’re there for six months and do this over and over again. I’m sure that training kicked in after he did what he had to do.” The trooper will remain on administrative leave for a few days, which is a typical procedure.

    The CEO of First Bank made a statement commending the trooper for his bravery, valor and professionalism during the incident, and called it truly inspiring.

    Image courtesy of Twitter.

  • 107-year-old Man Shot in S.W.A.T. Standoff

    A 107-year-old Pine Bluff, Arkansas man was killed on Saturday after firing at police. According to KATV, the police were responding to a report of aggravated assault when they found themselves in a standoff with the elderly man, Monroe Isadore.

    After a call came in reporting Isadore for allegedly pointing a gun at someone, police responded and tried to negotiate with the man. According to the Pine Bluff Commercial, police were able to get the two people inside the house out safely. After the officers approached a closed bedroom door where they were told Isadore was with a gun, Isadore fired rounds through the door. No one was hit by the shots, and the police called in backup.

    In a statement made by the Pine Bluff Police Department, “negotiations continued for some time and when S.W.A.T arrived, negotiations still continued. S.W.A.T. was able to insert a camera into the room, where Isadore was, and confirmed he was armed with a handgun. S.W.A.T. inserted gas into the room after it was evident negotiations were unsuccessful, in hopes Isadore would surrender peacefully.”

    Isadore began firing his gun again after noticing the gas, which prompted the S.W.A.T. team to shoot and kill him. The Pine Bluff Coroner’s Office said that Isadore had multiple gunshot wounds.

    Despite reports of Isadore firing at law enforcement, some people think that Isadore’s death was unnecessary. A neighbor of Isadore’s, Chelisa Canada, said that the officers didn’t have to kill Isadore and that “they could have done something else.” Canada questions details of the incident, including whether or not Isadore had enough bullets to fire as many rounds as officers are claiming. “I think they went in there with the intention of killing him. He couldn’t have had that many bullets in his gun,” Canada told the Pine Bluff Commercial.

    Reports of the 107-year-old man’s death have set the Twitterverse afire, with some users in agreement with Canada’s belief that the S.W.A.T. team didn’t have to kill Isadore, while others were in shock at the news a centenarian was involved in a shootout.

    Image via YouTube